What kind of facilities does a community center have?This depends on the nature of the community center. Most have classrooms or studios where programs are offered. In addition they also include sports facilities, such as indoor basketball courts, a gym, and even a swimming pool. Religious community centers may also have a small place of worship inside the building, while youth community centers will have game rooms. Since the center is designed to meet the needs of all people in the area, they usually have a wide variety of facilities.

Where can I get information on community center programs?Probably the best way is directly from the office of the community center. Typically, new programs are advertised within the community center, and pamphlets are offered for free that explain all of the programs currently being offered. Some community centers, especially those in large metropolitan areas, allow for you to search through their programs via their website. Keep in mind that many programs offered are divided up based on age. Youth sport leagues, for example, contains different age groups.

What is the difference between a community center and a cultural center?A cultural center is actually a type of community center. While community centers exist to serve the needs of the surrounding area, a cultural center focuses on a particular culture within the community. For example, if the area has a large Spanish-speaking immigrant population, a cultural center will serve their needs by offering classes in Spanish and sponsoring Spanish events.

If you are interested in finding a public community center that has the sports, health, and medical facilities that benefit you, then you might want to contact several clubs to help you determine which one is best for you. Many clubs have party spaces, parks, indoor recreation centers, meeting rooms where people can gather for a social activity, and fitness rooms. When you contact the community centers, you will need to know what questions to ask them. First, find out how long they have been in operation. If they have several years of experience, then they should be able to offer more youth and senior programs. Ask them if they have a web site where you get more information about their health development and recreation programs. If you are a senior, then you should look for programs that are specifically designed to meet your needs. Some centers not only have health, recreation, and social services for members, they also allow other people in the community to rent meeting rooms for their activities. You might be able to use this space to host a birthday party, seminar, workshop, or other service. Ask them how large their meeting rooms are so that you can determine if the facility is appropriate for the crowd you expect. If the community association has all of the programs and facilities that you need, then you should ask them how much membership and rentals cost so that you can compare the prices of different clubs in your area.